Spring assembling machine



Jan. 20, 1953 Ejl.. BRoNsTlEN ErAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 24, 1949 www SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 ,Maw JI a Jan. 20, 1953 E. L. BRoNsTlEN Erm. 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLINC- MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORS @ffy Jan. 20, 1953 E. l.. BRoNsTlEN Erm. 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 IN VENTORS Jan. 20, 1953 E. BRoNsTlEN ETAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 20, 1953 E. BRoNsTlEN ETAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING .MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet@ Filed Jan. 24, 1949 wmf d m. ff w J 3/ M Edward/? i@ Join/Verwen ll/oo 'Mgg/e f- I Jan. 20, 1953 E. l.. BRoNsTlEN Erm. 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 \&

Jan. 20, 1953 E. BRONS-NEN ETAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1949 15 sheets-sheet s la Zin-f7 g2 E. L. BRONSTIEN ETAL 2,625,962

Jan. 20, 1953 SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 INVENTORS.

Jan. 20, 1953 E. L. BRoNsTsEN ETAL 2,625,962

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ya? l Jan. 20, 1953 E. L. BRoNsTlEN ETAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1949 i 15 Sheets-Sheet ll O N lun'luluu n IMM E (1f/7 /15 fy my Jan. 20, 1953 E. L. BRoNsTlEN ETAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 Jan. 20, 1953 E. L. B'RoNsTlEN ErAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSMBLING MACHIN v Filed Jan. 24, 1949 I 1'5 sheets-sheet 1s Jan. 20, 1953 E. L. BRONS-NEN ETAL 2,625,952

SPRING ASSEMBLlNG MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 l5 Sheets-Sheet 14 Jan. 20, 1953 E. l.. BRoNsTlEN ETAL 2,625,962

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 Jazz Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNI-'TED ySTA'IES PATENT OFFICE ,l 2,625,962 'SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Edward Baastian, si. Pulf'iviinnj andJoim yNorman Woodington, Chicago, .Il l., assignorsjo UnitedStates ,Bedding Co., St. Paul, Minn., a.

corporation 01:' 'Minnesota Appiicatifon January 24, 1949, serial No. 72,282

This invention relates to improvements in the 'has for its object to convert saidmachinenwhich tion of the maiiii'ikenzri. the une i3|3 of Fie. 1., y i f Fig. 121v `is a sectional View taken on the line is manually operated, into va semi-automatic, 5 Fig. vl5..is a fragmentary detail sectional view -power actuated machine, and to equip' the` same taken on the line I5-,I5 of Fig. 14. f with automatically actuated tie-wire trimming Fig.v 16 is a continuation of` Fig. 13 but. shows L mechanisms, and otherwise improve gvthe,` same, the carriage-which .is reciprocated by the screw l'asgpointed,outl hereinafter, thereby' e`ff ecting shaft, .disposed farther to the right than in substantial increase in production perfman hour 10 Figs. 1 and 2.V of spring assemblies of the -same typefas are Fig. 17- is a vertical transverse sectional view 'pfoducedby lthe machine of the aforesaid patent, taken on `the line II- I'l of Fig. 16. and eliminate a great. number of the manual Fig. 1 8 isa vfragmentary planvew of Fig. 17, o'pc'eiations incident toeifecting the trimming of as indicated by theline I8-I8 of Fig. 17.l ",both'erid's, of each tie-wire included in theassem- 15. Fig. v19..is a fragmentary detail .Vertical longibliesd'eliveredby. the machine of said patent.- tudinalsectionalgviewtaken on the line IS-I9 1A" suitable embodiment o f the -invention, is of Fig. 17, ,withthe plane of said line extending illustrated"inthe accompanying drawingswherein part through the right-hand frame plate of "in: Fig. 13'. ,.1 f

` Fig. lisv afra'grnentary plan view of -'the' na- 2Q Fig. 20v is a face View of one of the upholstery "chinefon a small scale. .springengagingblocks of the machine whichis Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of'the equipped with a tie-Wire severing and terminal same on thesame scale as Fig. 1. loop forming mechanism.v

. Fig. 3 .is atop, plan .View ofa portionlofv the Fg.u 2l.is a verticaltransverse sectional View 'machine on a larger scale than Figs..1`,' nd 2, 25 of the same takenon the line 2 1--21 of Fig. 20. Fig. 4 is acentral vertical longitudinal s ec- Fig...22 is a vVertical longitudi-nal sectional f tional .view of the portion ofthe machinefshown View taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.y

in Fig. 3 apart of the lower frame portion being Fig. 23 is a fragmentary longitudinal plan secomitted. tional view,..on an enlarged scale, showing the Fig. 5 is'a. fragmentary .vertical trams've'rsev 30 tie-wire severing. v.and .terminal loop forming "sectional View of the same taken on the line 5-'5 mechanism of another. of the blocks shown in "'ofFigB. pag.20... Fig.. 6 is a fragmentary,A substantially vertical Figs..24 and. 25lare similar to Fig. 23, showing transverse sectional vieu/,on 'an enlarged scale, the movable memberof the mechanism in differ- 'taken on' the lineS-B of Fig.,4. A 35 "ent progressive positions.

Fig. 7 'is a sectional view takenV onthe4 line Fig. 26 is a'fragmentary end elevation of the 1-7 0f Fig. 6- v. tie- Wirewreceivingend. of an upholstery spring Fig. 8 is a'ir'agmentarydetail end elevation of engaging block ofthe machine. j the machine, on a larger scale than Fig. 1, look- Fig. 27 is. a fragmentaryview of an end poring atthe left-handfend of Fig.'1.I 4o. tin offa tie-wirev after the same has been Fig. 9 is 'a'ffragmentary detail lsectional View trimmed by the. mechanisms of Figs. 23-25. taken on the line v9 .--.9 of Fig. 8. Fig.. 28 is a lvertical transverse sectional View Fig. 10 is avertical transversesectional view, partly in relevation anden, an enlarged scale, "on `an enlarged scale, taken on the line lill0 taken onthe line 28.-28 of Fig. 2 of Fig'. 1l. 1 45. Fig.29. is afragrnentary detailplan view of the Figl v 11 is'fal'plan sectional view.,..tal env on the Arack bars'and'spur gear wheels shown in Figs. l, line Il l| ,of Fig.'10','the.upholstery spring enz and'zg., y

gaging blOkS Of Fig.4 10 being ll'iltied. Fig 30 is a,. view .in elevation, 0 n a, reduced Fig` .l2/iS. a ,fragmentary plan View' oi the. scalef'of the ineclfianism'shown in part at the :fstriicture shown in Figs.' 10 and 11,'a`ndincludes 50'toplof Fig. 28. a fragmentary' Y131211@ SC10nal1vieW`0f the rght- Fig.. '.3 1.isfa'plan'y sectional view, nartly broken .hand end frame plate. of 'the' machine nd'isarts away, taken on the une .3l- 3| of Fig. 2a. mounted upon the same.. .1. Fig. 32 i s afraginentary'plan view .of the type Fgfl 'iS afffgiiitary'fl,.liftial'llgi or?,spring.assemblygproducedzby the machine. 'itudinal sectional view of 'the"leftlhad'end'por- 55 'Figf33' qis a view in' side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a mechanism which effects shifting of upholstery spring carriers of the machine a collar and spring being omitted.

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view showing other parts of the shifting mechanism and taken on the line 34-34 of Fig. 3, the motor being omitted,

Fig. 35 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the indexing mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 36 is a vertical )transverse sectional view taken on the line 36-36 of Fig. 33.

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary detail side elevation of the clutch of Fig. 36.

Fig. 38 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 38-38 of Fig. 36 on a larger scale.

SECTION 1 Brief general description Sheets 1-5 and 17 The machine is designed for the production of spring assembliesv composed of the knotted type of hour glass upholstery springs I which are disposed in parallel rows, both longitudinally and transversely, as shown in Fig. 32, the springs of the longitudinal rows being spaced ap-art and the knots 2 thereof disposed substantially midway between the uppermost and lowermost portions of the terminal coils of the springs. Successive transverse rows of the springs I are partially overlapped and coupled with each other by means of helicaltie-wires 3, Which encircle the overlapped portions of the same.

Said tie-wires 3 are first cut to a length greater than shown in Fig. 32 before they are engaged with the springs I, the surplus lengths thereof being cut H and the then remaining terminal coils, of the thus shortened tie-wires, are then bent to form closed loops 4. Whi-ch prevent the tie-wires from becoming disengaged from the springs I as shown in Figs. 27 and 32.

The tie-wire cut-off and loop forming operations aforesaid are known to those skilled in the art, as tie-wire trimming operations which are mostV commonly performed manually by means of Suitable pneumatically actuated hand tools after a spring assembly has been delivered from the machine, as in the case of the machine of said Patent No. 2,351,659.

The machine, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises, in part, a suitable main frame portion,'not described in detail, which is equipped with suitable bearings for two pairs of parallel horizontal shafts. upper shaft 5 and a lower shaft 6, the axes of the shafts of each pair lying in spaced apart parallel vertical planes.y Each of said pairs of shafts carries pairsrof spaced apart sprocket wheels 1. Sprocket chains 8 are trained over these sprocket wheels, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 5 but omitted from the right-hand side as not necessary to be shown there. y

Mounted rigidly upon links of each pair of sprocket chains 8 is a set of four equally spaced apart bars 9, I0, II and l2, respectively. Mounted adjustably upon each of said bars is a set of blocks I3, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 20, 21 and l22, and which are spaced apart in harmony with the predetermined 4spacing apart of the vertical rows of springs I, shown in Fig. 32.

The blocks I3 of each of said bars at the left-hand side become opposed to the blocks I3 Each pair thereof comprises anV 4 at the right-hand side during intermittent operations of the shafts 5 and 6 in unison in opposite directions.

The space between faces of opposed blocks I3 is usually about sixty percent of the length of the springs I.

As shown in Fig. 20, each block I3 is provided in its face with a guide channel I4 for a tiewire 3, and also with substantially arcuate grooves I5 and I6 respectively, the groove I5 being shaped to correspond substantially with the contour of the lower portions of the knotted terminal coils of the springs I, shown in Fig. 32, while the groove I6 is shaped to correspond substantially with the contour of the upper portions of the springs I, the intermediate coils of which are of smaller diametric dimensions than the knotted end-coils thereof. These arcuate grooves I5 and I6 are so nearly similar in radial dimensions as to be substantial duplicates of each other. In instances wherein the said endcoils are not substantially circular, the grooves I5 and IB will be of contours corresponding with those of the spring end-coil portions to be received therein.

Both grooves I5 and I6 are flared, being substantially V-shaped in radial section and are provided, preferably, which arcuate bottoms of radius equal, substantially, to that of the largest gauge (diameter) of wire of which the springs I may be composed.

The groove I5 is of less depth than the groove I6 to an extent substantially equal t0 the gauge (diameter) of the wire of which the springs I are made. The bottoms of the grooves l5 and I6 lie in spaced apart planes parallel with the face of the block I3. A vertical plane of the axis of the guide channel I4 is coincident with the plane of overlap of the springs within the guide channel I4, whichis square in cross-section and of slightly larger diameter than the tie-wire 3, as is true, also, of the blocks 2l of the said patented machine.

Parallel with and spaced equally from the guide channel I4 are two channels I'l and I8, the channel Il being preferably of equal but of no less depth than the groove I5, and channel I8 being similarly of no less depth than the groove I6. The channels I1 yand I 8 receive flanges of a channel bar element of a clamping bar structure (shown in Figs. l0, 11 and 12 and described hereinafter) which acts to clamp the portions of the spring I engaged'in the arcuate grooves I5 and I6 against the arcuate bottoms of the latter and the channels I1 and IB. This is true, also, of the clamping bar structure of the patented machine.

The spring end-coil portions lying within said grooves I5 and I6 thus are positioned accurately with respect to the guide channel I4 so that only predetermined portions of said end-coils of springs I become overlapped within said channel I4 and become disposed, also, out of the path of the front extremity of 'the tie-wire 3 to prevent obstruction to free travel of the latter.

In order to bring about this encircling of the overlapped pairs of spring portions o1 two rows thereof by the helical tie-wires with an equal number of coils of the latter disposed about each pair, the blocks I3 mustvbe adjusted longitudinally of the bars 9, I0, II and I2 relative to each other by trial and error before the machine is ready for continuous operation. Such adjustment is required because the path of `the front extremity of .the tie-wires is almost as accurate as a thread cut into rthe interior of a tube. These adjustments are very slight, of

course.

Mounted tangentially of the upper groove I .are two stop or giude pins I9, and, similarly disposed relative to the groove I6, are similar pins 20, the latter being also disposed tangentially of the lower wall of the lower channel I8.

Midway between the side edges of the block I3 is a wide vertical groove 2| which is of depth equal to or slightly greater than the channel I4, except at its upper end where its bottom wall is sloped, as shown in Fig. 20. This groove is referred to hereinafter as the stripper groove (shown in Fig. 4).

Upon the top of the machine frame there are mounted flat or leaf springs 22 of inverted substantially U-shaped type (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). One arm of each of these springs is rigid with the machine frame. The other arm is disposed so that its lower end portion bears upon the upper edge portion of a block I3 over the stripper groove ZI, there being one spring 22 for each block I3 of a row thereof.

The terminal blocks I3 of each row thereof (the block of Figs. 20 and 21 being one of same) are equipped with the aforesaid trimming mechanisms and are described in detail later herein.

The bars 9I2 are disposed between flat vertical end plates 23 and 24, of the main frame of the machine, with one end of each bar preferably in contact with the right-hand end plate 24 (Fig. 3). The right-hand end blocks of each bar (the block of Figs. 20-22 being one of them) are disposed as closely proximate to the plate 24 as is possible to prevent undue waste of tie-wires 3.

Said plate 24 acts as a stop to prevent longitudinal movements of the bars 9-I2, for reasons explained later, and acts also, as a stop for parts of the clamping bar structure, as also explained later herein.

Each block I3 is equipped at its lower end with a tapered surface portion of greater thickness than its grooved and channeled portion and presents a slightly tapered shoulder 24a which is engaged with a correspondingly tapered lower edge of the bar 9-I2 upon which the block I3 is mounted (Fig. 21).

Mounted upon each of the said bars 9-I2 is a bar I3a. and a bearing block I 3c. The lower edge of said bar I3a is spaced from the tapered edge of the bar 9--I2 upon which it is mounted and is eouipped with a tapered upper edge. The clamping bar 13b is secured by screws to the top edge of each block I3 and is equipped with a ange provided with a tapered edge which bears upon the tapered edge of the bar I3a when said screws are tightened and thus clamps the block I3 against all movement relative to the bar 9--I2 upon which it is mounted (Figs. 20-22).

Each block I3 of every row' is provided with a back channel, which is closed by the bar 9-I2, and thus forms a rectangular tube.

These tubes and the lower skirt portions of the blocks I3 differentiate the latter from the blocks 2I of the aforesaid patented machine.

Note that Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are substantial duplicates of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of said Patent No.

Note also that the blocks of Figs. 15 and 16 of said patent are exactly the same, substantially, as those of the instant machine insofar as the channels and arcuate grooves of the latter are concerned.

sEo'r'roN 21' Y The tie-wire feed mechanism This mechanism vcomprises al casing-f 31 equipped with bearings for the shaft 31a, driven by a motor I24 (Figs. 3, 4 and 33)v and which;

carries the gear pinions 38 meshed withpinions 38a which drive spindles 39.

Each spindle 39 passes through equipped with bearings for the upper and lower ends of said spindles 39.

Each of the latter is geared to a companion-A spindle 4I by means of the spur-gear wheels 42. The spindle 4I is journalled adjacent its lower end in a bearing 43 which is adjustable by means of the set screw 44 relative to the lower bearing` of the spindle 39. 1

The lower end portions of the ates the shaft of the above described mechanism.

The above described structure is not novel and is merely exemplary of a suitable tie-wirefeed mechanism.

SECTION 3 Detailed description of the clamping bar structure Sheet 6 Fig. 10 shows a pair of opposed blocks I3 mounted upon bars 9 of Fig. 5, the clamping bar structure being shown in vertical transverse sec?- tion on a smaller scale than Figs. 20 and 21. That structure comprises a plunger 25 composed of parallel horizontal flat strips secured to each other in spaced apart relation by means of spacing members 26 (Figs. 10 and 11), by welding or otherwise, to provide long slots in said plunger. l

Midway between the ends of each slot, avertical pivot pin 21 is mounted in the plunger and upon each pin 21 a pair of toggle links 28 is mounted pivotally. Each link 28 is pivotally con--v nected at its other end with a pair of projections 29 of a channel bar 30. The latter is equipped with side flanges which enter the grooves or chan-v nels I1 -and I8 parallel with the guidey channels I4 of the blocks I3 when the channel bars-are disposed at the outer limits of their lateral move--A ment relative to the plunger 25. bar 30 includes terminal sections 34 movable laterally relative thereto.

Tension springs 3'I pass through the `slots of the plunger 25 and are connected at their ends with the channel bars 30 and 34 and operate to maintain the latter normally at the inner limit of their said lateral movement in contact wit the plunger 25.

The flanges of the channel bar differ in depthY to accord with the difference in depth-of the.

channels I1 and I8 of the blocks I3 and are equipped with inturned anges equipped with stop shoulders 3Ia.

Passing through al1 `channel bars 30-34 are closure bars 32 for the tie-wire guide channels I4 of all of the blocks I3 of a row. Bowed iiat4 springs 33 maintain the bars 32 engaged normally` with said stop shoulders 31a. When. the .flanges a casing 4t! spindles 39 r and 4I are provided with annular grooves 45 in which Each channel of sections 30 and -'34enterl the channels Il and I8 of the bloclrsll and bear upon the portions of the springs I which pass over the bottom walls off the-said channels I .'l and I8; the bars 32 bear uponthe vfacesofy the blocks I3 and become spaced from thefsaid stop shoulders 3Ia (see Fig. 10).

The end sections 34 (Figs. 11 and 12) are adapted to enter the channels I1 and I8 of only the terminal blocks I3' of each row in order to permit the use of heavier gauge marginal springs I of the ultimate assembly, than the remaining springsA of each transverse row, as is common practice in theind-ustry.

` The pairs of toggle links` 28 connecting the pins 21 withl the terminal channel bar sections 34are somewhat shorter than the links 28 which connect the pins 21 with/thc middle section 30. The pivot pinsl 28a are of such length that they project beyond the side faces of the said flanges 29 through longitudinal slots 29a of which they pass, said slots being so short as to be impossible of clear illustration.

Bowed springs` 35 are interposed betweenthe outer; end yportions of the pins 28a and the webs ofthe sections V34 and serveto maintain said pins 28a vdisposed normally at the outer ends of the last mentioned slots. The difference between the lmovements of the sections 34 and the middle sections 30 is never more than a few thousandths of an inch.

The` sections V3.4 `abut the main section 30 at one end each and,`in operation, as the plunger 25 has neared the inner limitof. its movement, the other ends of the sections 34, at the inner end of the.A structure, abut the end plate 24 of` the machine frame while the plunger 25 continues its movement, and thus all of the toggle links are caused to operate to move the channel bars 30 and 3'4 to the outer limit of their lateral movementagainst the Iaction of the tension springs 3| tothe position of Fig. 10. The left-hand sections-34 are equipped with extensions 34a, shown inFigs. 3 and 4 and also in Figs. 16 and 17.

The plunger 25 is projected along its innermost end. portion throughan opening in the plate 24 and. is engagedbetween a pairof spring held brakemembers 36, mounted upon said plate 24, which operate in a well-known manner to preventY thel tension springs 3| from drawing the channel bar sections 30 and 34 back to the inner limit of their lateral movement relativeV to the plunger- 25 and thus prevent any retraction of theplunger 25.

During reciprocation of the` channel bar structure, the lower flanges of the -channel barsections 30.and 34- ride upon the pins 2U (Figs. l0', and 21') of the blocks I3y to which they are. opposed..

SECTION 4 Mechanism for actuating the clamping bar structure Sheets 1 and 7 Description of this mechanism and itsoperation is limited, in this section, to the parts thereof which veliectv .movementl of the. clamping bar structure from the left-hand to the inner (righthand) llimit of its movement, after the operator As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of horizontallyv disposed angle bars 50 are secured at their righthand ends to the main frame of the machine.

A reversible electricl motor 5I (Fig. 2) is disposed below the outer end portions of the bars and is connected by a belt 52 with a sheave 53" mounted rotatably upon the unthreaded end portion of the screw shaft 54. Said unthreaded portion is journalled in the bearing 55, and in the frame plate 60. The right-hand extremity of said screw shaft 54 is journalled in a bearing of the frame plate 23a (Figs. 1 and 2).

A brake 51 (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) is disposed for engagement with the outermost end portion of the screw shaft 54.

The sheave 53 constitutes a friction clutch member for co-operation with the sliding clutch member 56, keyed to the screw shaft 54, and which is held normally engaged with the sheave 53 by the compression spring 58. The latter is interposed between the clutch member 55 and the frame plate (Fig. 13, Sheet 7) The clutch member 56 is reciprocated by a conventional lever 59 which is pivotally connected with a rigid frame part and also with the reciprocable rod '52, as described hereinbelow. The latter is also connected with the brake lever 63.

The brake of Figs. 8 and 9 (Sheet 5) is of a conventional type and comprisesbrake shoes 5'! pivotally engaged with a pin mounted upon a cross bar integral with the bearing 55. The brake shoes are equipped with beveled flanges 51a between which a compression spring 53a is interposed, and upon the outer faces of which a pair,

of arms 64 ride. The latter are rigid with a reciprocabl'e member 65 operatively engaged with the brake lever 63'.

The lever 63 is secured pivotally, between its ends, to a side plate 50a, rigid with one of the angle bars 50, and is connected, suitably, at its lower end with the member 65, and at its upper end with a rod 5l by means of a member 57a.

The rod 67 (Fig. 13) passes slidably through a member 66 and is equipped, at its right-hand end, with lock nuts 68. A powerful compression spring 691s interposed between the nuts 68 and the member 56 to control the degree of pressure exerted upon the screw shaft 54 by the brake shoes 5l.

The member is connected rigidly with the left-hand end of the rod 62.

No patentable novelty is claimed for the above described brake,yp er se.

The screw shaft 54 is equipped, preferably, with a very long pitch thread, such as the triple thread shown in Figs. l and 2 or an equally long pitch single thread for reasons set forth hereinbelow. In other figures, a standard single thread is shown for convenience only.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and also in Figs. 16 and 17, the screw shaft reciprocates a carriage 10. Said carriage is equipped with a removable nut 'ma suitably secured rigidly thereto and with which the screw shaft 54 is engaged.

Said carriage is connected detachably with the plunger 25 of the clamping bar structure by means of the spring held latch lever 'il (Fig. 16, Sheet 8) which is pivotally secured between its ends within the channeled base member 1S of the carriage 70, by means of the pivot pin "I2, and is equipped at one end with the projection i3 which engages normally in a recess in the plunger 25. Said lever I is equipped at its other end with a roller 14 which rides upon a cam block 15, mounted upon the angle bars 5i), to effect release of the I projection 'i3 from the recess in the plunger 25 -9 `at a given point in the travel of the -carriage'1ll in the direction to move the clamping bar vstructure to the right-hand limit of its movement, the remainder of said movement of the clamping bar structure being eifected by momentum.

A compression spring (Fig. 16) maintains'the latch lever 1| normally engaged with the plunger 25.

The length of travel of the carriage 10 is greater than that of the clamping bar structure, so that, after the latter has attained the inner right-hand limit of its movement, the carriage moves onto its right-hand limit of movement relative to the plunger 25.

The base plate of the carriage 10 is equipped with side flanges 16a which engage in the grooves of the arms 34a of the left-hand channel bar sections 34 of the clamping bar structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and which constitute extensions of the latter which spread apart without being disengaged from the flanges 16a as the plunger 25 attains the inner limit of its movement. Said arms 34a do not pass through the opening in the frame plate 23. Said arms 34a ride upon a series of rollers 18 mounted upon studs secured to the vertical flanges of the angle bars 50 (Fig. 16).

The rod 62 is slidable, at its end portions, in bearings in the frame plates 60 and 23a, respec tively, and is equipped with an adjustable collar 19 and nuts 80 adjacent said end portions, the nuts 80 being spaced from a collar 80a on said rod, as shown in Figs. 1 and 28.

The clutch spring 58 maintains the rod 62 normally at the left-hand limit of its movement, with brake shoes 51 released from the screw shaft 54 during periods of rotation of the latter by throw-in of the clutch member 56.

As the carriage 10 nears either limit of its travel, said rod 62 must be shifted to clutch throw-out and brake setting position, this being accomplished by mechanisms mounted upon the said carriage 10. Said mechanisms also operate to actuate a pair of electrically associated switches which control the circuits of the motor 5| to open one and close the other thereof each time that the rod 62 attains the right-hand limit of its movement.

Since this section of the specification deals only with all that is accomplished by the carriage 1U during its travel to the right, only one of the said mechanisms on said carriage is described next below.

Said mechanism comprises a post 8| (Figs. 1, 2, 16 and 17 and 18, Sheet 8) which is of inverted L-shape and is equipped with a flange 82 to which a lever 83, having an inclined cam edge 84, is secured pivotally at one end. Secured rigidly to said lever 83 between the ends thereof, is another L-shaped member which comprises a horizontal` arm 85 which bears normally upon the rod l62, and an upright arm 81. A spring 86 is engaged with the flange 82 and the lever 83 to hold the latter normally in the position of Fig. 16.

The collar 80 of the rod 62 (Fig. 1) is kdisposed in the path of the arm 85, and as the carriage approaches the frame plate 23a, the collar 80 is engaged by said arm 85 and throws the rod 62 to its right-hand limit, and thereby causes the collar 80a on said rod to pass over the beveled edge portion of the' arm 90 of the spring-held bell crank trip lever 9| (Figs. l, 28 and 30). The rod 62 is thus maintained at the. right-hand limit of its movement against '1"0 the action of the spring 58 until saidtrip lever is actuated to release the collar a.

The lever 88 of the switch 89 (Fig. 28) is disposed in the path of the arm 81. `The lower wall of a corner recess of the plate 23a is disposed in the path of the cam edge 84 of the lever 83. Below the plate 23a is the opening in the plate 23 through which the clamping bar structure passes.

A tension spring (Figs. 28 and 30) maintains the said bell-crank lever normally engaged with said rod 62.

At about the instant that the collar `Bilal has passed over the said arm 90, the cam edge 84 of the lever 83 will have raised the arm 85 above the level of the collar 80 and at about the same instant that this occurs, the arm 81 actuates the switch lever 88 to position to open the circuit of the motor 5|, theretofore closed, and to close the other circuit of said motor 5| preparatory to actuating the crank shaft 94 to release the collar 80a, cause the rod 62 to be moved to clutch throw-in position and thus cause the carriage 10 to travel to the left, said shaft 94 being equipped with hand levers 94a for use of the operator (Fig. 30).

The momentum of the carriage 10, which travels at high speed, is sufficient to overcome the brake resistanceto rotation of the screfw shaft 54, to permit the carriage to move to its switch lever 88 actuating position after the brake 51 has been set and said clutch 56 thrown out. The carriage 19 is then disposed at the righthand limit of its movement and remains there until the operator has inserted a pair of tiewires @and has thereafter actuated the crank shaft 94.

One switch |240. vof a pair of the same type as the switch 89 that controls a circuit of the motor |24, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 33, diagrammatically, is mounted upon an angle bar 50 (Figs. 1 and 2). The lever of said switch -is shown as disposed in the path of a projection |06a of a rack bar |66 mounted upon the carriage 10 and is moved thereby to position to close, and maintainy closed, a circuit of the said motor |24 before the carriage 18 has attained the right-hand limitof its movement, thereby causing actuation of the tie-wire feed mechanism in the direction required to effect insertion of tie-wires 3 into the' tube 46 and thus through guide channels |4, until said circuit is reopened by actuation of a companion switch as described hereinafter. v

A button switch |2411 (Figs. l and 5) is provided, as in the patented machine, to be depressed by the operator to reverse the rotation of the motor |24 in the event that the tiewire 3 does not pass full length through a guide channel |4 and needs to Vbe withdrawn and another tie-wire inserted in place thereof.

Travel of the carriage 1|) to the left, after actuation of the shaft 94, does not affect the switch |24a. which closes the circuit of the motor |24.

SECTION 5 The tie-wire trimming mechanism One of these mechanisms is incorporated into each of the terminal blocks of each row thereof, the block I3 of Figs. 20, 21- and 22 being one thereof disposed next adjacent the frame plate 24 of the machine.

The other terminal block of each row is shown in section in Figs. 23, 24 and 25 on an enlarged 

